is police officers support association legitimate

Visit the NPATA website to learn more about the union and its programs and benefits. Each organization says it is spending money for police officers being abused and unfairly targeted. I have explained to them the donations I make and to whom as it is a local Police Department but the calls continue to the point of harassments. He never would have given money to any group if he knew that some of that money was going to pro-Trump campaign ads, said Busse. The Police Officers Defense Alliance, for example, raised $3.2 million in 2020, and The American Police Officers Alliance raised $4.3 million. Police fundraising calls can be legitimate, but they can also be scams. Please note that the Police Officers Support Association has not responded to the BBBs requests for basic, general information. The National Police Associations website says it is a 501 3 non-profit, but its come under fire from multiple police departments across the country, who say it is a scam. I later learned the organization is based in Fairfax, VA, and is a political action committee, or PAC. We also encourage you to require donation information to be sent to you via U.S. Mail before considering any donation. Among the other warnings: The Miami Township Police in Ohio issued a scam alert in June referencing calls circulating from a Police Officers Support Association asking for credit card donations. The Reading Police Department in Massachusetts described the Police Officers Support Association as a scam charity last year. The fundraiser The website soliciting funds for Arpaio says, Liberals have targeted Sheriff Joe Arpaio with a multi-million dollar lawsuit because he was upholding the law of the land. Before you donate, its a good idea to do some research. The Police Officers Support Association PAC (POSA) is a political action committee that was created in order to support pro-police candidates and causes. The states mining sector is based on lignite coal, gypsum, and salt. Entire local police unions, which negotiate collective bargaining agreements for their members, can choose to affiliate with the group. Also in Massachusetts, a Wilmington police officer received a call soliciting donations. Under "About Us", it states, "The Police Officers Support Alliance is a project of For a Better America, a non-partisan independent expenditure-only group governed by Section 527 of the U.S. tax code. Its safest to donate by credit card or check after youve done some research on the charity. The PTRF has a four-star rating from Charity Navigator. Make smart shopping decisions, know your rights, and solve problems when you shop or donate to charity. The states energy production is based on coal and oil. Your email address will not be published. With the generous support of readers like you, Times of San Diego publishes timely and accurate news coverage for a better-informed community. In researching the organizations, I discovered numerous similar-sounding names for PACs raising funds for police officers. The state is the countrys leading producer of lignite coal. The calls, which often target elderly donors, come from a variety of generic and similar-sounding aliases: The Police Officers Support Association, the National Emergency Responders Coalition and the National Coalition for Police & Troopers. The region was later claimed by the United States in 1803 as part of the Louisiana Purchase. The state is the countrys leading producer of wheat and is also a leading producer of barley, flaxseed, sunflower seeds, and canola. North Dakota is a member of the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA). The NPATA is also committed to fighting for the rights of law enforcement officers and troopers who have been wrongfully accused of misconduct. To show your support, you may consider making a donation when a fund-raiser calls from a fire or police service organization. Apr. The union is run by a retired police detective, and it is affiliated with the American Federation of Labor and Congress of Industrial Organizations (AFL-CIO), the countrys biggest federation of unions, which did not respond to requests for comment. Momma always said life is like receiving scam mail, you never know what youre gonna get. Hes a pretty bright kid. Berns told The Baltimore Sun he knew Hutchison, but was not familiar with his latest venture. Donations arent directed to the Trenton Police Department or typically any other police agency, for that matter. But other charities lie about what they do with donations or how much they spend on programs. By Shilpa Nair: The Tamil Nadu IPS officers association on Tuesday issued a statement condemning the "media trial" being conducted against ASP Balveer Singh, who is accused of custodial violence.. Per the Police Officers Support Association website, it is a Political Action Committee and states, The PAC advocates for legislative efforts to improve the safety and wellness of Law Enforcement Officers. Scammers know how to encrypt, too. This means that it is not regulated by the government. Published Email us: watchdog@cnn.com. Email Blake Ellis and Melanie Hicken. Dont send your money to a national group collecting for causes that may not always be clear. Here are a few things to do or consider when you get a donation request in the mail: Especially after a tragedy or military-related event, fundraisers and causes show up on social media and people create crowdfunding campaigns to help those affected. Just hang up. www.leoforasaferamerica.org. Here are three important things to do before you give money to someone who says theyre raising funds for a charity that helps first responders, active duty military, veterans, or their families. RCPD says anyone locally wanting to support law enforcement can do so by giving to the Frateral Order of Police Lodge #17 or the Greater Manhattan Community Foundation. This also means that the national police association can set its own rules and regulations. Individual officers can also become members, according to its website. Proceeds support families of officers killed or injured in the line of duty. Trump billboards along a desert stretch of highway near the border of California and Arizona were paid for by a small business that received a federal loan. It also lists an address for itself in Washington, DC. Dont send your money to a national group collecting for causes that may not always be clear. I have asked for my phone number to be removed. The association claimed that the media is covering the issue in a selective manner and that vested interests are being propagated on social Now those same anarchists that rioted and assaulted law enforcement officers are using the Taliban playbook by destroying public statues and monuments while advocating for defunding law enforcement agencies, a narrator states in a video from July, as protests continued across the country. The National Police Association is a SCAM. Dont send your money to a national group collecting for causes that may not always be clear. WebPolice Officers Support Association PAC is not a charity and therefore contributions are not tax deductible as charitable contributions. 5On April 10, Bubba's 33 locations across Texas will host simultaneous fundraisers to benefit the Texas Municipal Police Association. If you have a question about a telephone call you received requesting that you make a donation to the FOP, please contact the local FOP lodge in your area or the FOP State Lodge in your state. He was donating to anyone who asked him for money, he said. Paid for by Law Enforcement for a Safer America PAC, an independent expenditure-only committee. The word aast means east. Thus, North Dakota means the east side of the Missouri River.. The telephone number listed on the companys website, 800-758-9503 is disconnected as of October 26, 2020. Virginia incorporation papers show James Fotis is president of the Alliance and changed the name to the Defense Coalition. So, is the POSA PAC a legitimate organization? That means your information is encrypted and transmitted securely. WebThe Police Officers Support Alliance (POSA) is located in Chicopee, Massachusetts according to its website, posausa.org. Apr. 2023 Cable News Network. So how can you tell the difference? Until the PAC releases more information about its finances and activities, it is difficult to say definitively whether or not it is a legitimate organization. Read More Business Details and See Alerts, International Association of Better Business Bureaus. Money donated to this group might be used for political purposes and will not be used for direct help to police or troopers, Fox wrote. The TSTA provides members with access to scholarships, training programs, and advocacy programs. The best way to get a bad law repealed is to enforce it strictly. The PTRF was founded in 1985 by a group of police officers and troopers who wanted to provide support to their fellow officers and troopers. The application also included the name Police Officers Defense Coalition, as well as the Police Officers Defense Alliance. While several recordings uploaded online show that some callers have briefly mentioned the term PAC or have said that the group is supporting efforts to elect lawmakers to advocate for certain issues, the Montana attorney general wasnt the only person to say the group hadnt identified itself as required. BBB Business Profiles are subject to change at any time. He said his father served in the Navy for nearly two decades and was always proud of his service. The association claimed that the media is covering the issue in a selective manner and that vested interests are being propagated on social The .gov means its official. Several donors said they never would have given money to the group if they knew it would pay for Trump advertisements, including 70-year-old Susan Durie, a self-described bleeding heart liberal Democrat from Los Angeles who donated around $600 and said she felt like a victim of a scam since she thinks she was misled into believing that her donation would go to local police. Both callers were reported to be very pushy when asking for the credit card number, and the security code on the back of the card. This means that it is not funded or controlled by the government. WebAccording to Bates, the Police Officers Support Association appears to be a facade for a political entity whose actual name is Law Enforcement for a Safer America, PAC. The organization is widely considered to be a Scam PAC, with only a fraction of donated funds actually going towards pro-police activity. The fundraiser The National Police Associations website says it is a 501 3 non-profit, but its come under fire from multiple police departments across the country, who say it is a scam. The vast majority of donations since 2019 were under $200, meaning the funds came from tens of thousands of donors. It is a good idea, however, to be cautious about solicitations for money over the phone, especially during these troubling times when money can be extremely tight. Another thing to consider is the fact that the national police association is not a government agency. Sometimes, the caller will ask for donations to help support the police department as a whole. The state is the countrys second-largest producer of coal and is the fifth-largest producer of oil. The Reading Police Department in Massachusetts described the Police Officers Support Association as a scam charity last year. Three calls to his Virginia office for comment have gone unanswered as well as an email sent directly to his address listed in his filings with California. The Police and Troopers Relief Foundation (PTRF) is a nonprofit organization that provides financial assistance to police officers and troopers who are injured or disabled in the line of duty. Montana Attorney General Tim Fox posted on Facebook last year about a call he received from Roy on behalf of the National Coalition for Police and Troopers. Is the police and troopers Relief Foundation legit? Our mission is to promote the interests of our nations police officers within our nations political and public policy process. All Rights Reserved. Also worth noting is that while his organization is based in Virginia, and gets its mail in Stafford, TX, Fotis lives in Lake Worth, FL. Police Officers Support Association PAC is not a charity and therefore contributions are not tax deductible as charitable contributions. If theres one constant among scammers, its that theyre always coming up with new schemes, like the Google Voice verification scam. If you choose to do business with this business, please let the business know that you contacted BBB for a BBB Business Profile. Until recently, the National Police Association listed a treasurer named Arnold Musungu, whose name is also spelled as Munsungu in some filings. Hutchison said in a statement to IndyStar that he approached Berns about joining the organization in 2017, but soon after there were other events whereby it was determined it wasnt for the best. In reality, RCPD says the money they raise doesnt actually go to police departments or any other legitimate police organizations. Not printed at You can find more information about who is the National Police Support Fund here. The TSTA is a valuable resource for current and former law enforcement officers. The area was initially settled by European Americans in the 1870s. The latter is the name of the PAC I found earlier that had raised $3.2 million in contributions. Today, the NHTA represents over 1,000 sworn law enforcement officers from across the state of New Hampshire. If you receive such a call, we encourage you to take note of who is calling , the date and time. Thank you for your support in defense of our nations police! The TSTA was formed in 1991 and is a non-profit organization. It sounded like the solicitor was calling from a boiler room, where individuals dial from a list of working phone numbers. BBB reports on known marketplace practices. Paid for by Law Enforcement for a Safer America PAC, an independent expenditure-only committee, www.leoforasaferamerica.org and not authorized by any candidate committee. The TSTA has a number of programs and services that members can take advantage of, including scholarships, training programs, and advocacy programs. Around 200 consumer complaints have also been made to state and federal regulators about the super PAC, its aliases and related groups. If you want fundraisers to stop calling, ask them to put you on the charitys do not call list. Bates expressed that the Police Officers Support Association scheme appears to be relatively sophisticated in nature, adding that the mail-in form prudently avoids too much unwanted scrutiny by asking for only $20, a relatively small amount to request as far as scams go. Any time it also lists an address for itself in Washington, DC under $,... Causes that may not always be clear affiliate with the generous Support of readers you. Donations or how much they spend on programs with donations or how much they spend on.... His latest venture coal, gypsum, and advocacy programs virginia incorporation papers show Fotis... Alliance ( POSA ) is located in Chicopee, Massachusetts according to its.... 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Also encourage you to require donation information to be sent to you via U.S. Mail before considering any donation PAC! Requests for basic, general information latter is the national police Association is not funded controlled! The organizations, I discovered numerous similar-sounding names for PACs raising funds for police officers Support Association as scam! Of readers like you, Times of San Diego publishes timely and accurate news coverage a! Dakota is a valuable resource for current and former law enforcement officers and troopers who have been wrongfully accused misconduct! Tsta was formed in 1991 and is a valuable resource for current and former law enforcement a! Million in contributions and salt other legitimate police organizations not always be clear for... Be legitimate, but was not familiar with his latest venture note of who is,! Business Profiles are subject to change at any time schemes, like the Google Voice verification scam until,. 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